Gregory Wright (astrophysicist)
Encyclopedia
Gregory W. Wright is an astrophysicist and independent consultant with Antiope Associates. On September 2, 2004, an article co-authored by Christopher Rose
and Wright, titled Inscribed matter as an energy-efficient means of communication with an extraterrestrial
civilization, appeared on the cover of Nature
with the headline "Dear ET...".
The article argued that wireless communication is an inefficient means for potential communication over interstellar distances owing to both the unavoidable reduction of signal strength as distance squared and that information can be densely encoded (inscribed) in matter. The article also suggested that information-bearing physical artifacts might be a more likely first form of contact with an extraterrestrial civilization than radio
signals. Following the publication, Rose and Wright's idea was featured on the BBC World Service and twice on National Public Radio.
Christopher Rose (professor)
Christopher Rose is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rutgers University in New Jersey and a founding member of WINLAB. He received a Ph.D from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985...
and Wright, titled Inscribed matter as an energy-efficient means of communication with an extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
civilization, appeared on the cover of Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
with the headline "Dear ET...".
The article argued that wireless communication is an inefficient means for potential communication over interstellar distances owing to both the unavoidable reduction of signal strength as distance squared and that information can be densely encoded (inscribed) in matter. The article also suggested that information-bearing physical artifacts might be a more likely first form of contact with an extraterrestrial civilization than radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
signals. Following the publication, Rose and Wright's idea was featured on the BBC World Service and twice on National Public Radio.